RTD finds merit in unsolicited proposal for North Metro Rail Project

The Regional Transportation District (RTD) of Denver, Colo., has determined that a confidential unsolicited proposal for the North Metro Rail Project has technical merit. The proposal was submitted Feb. 22 by a team led by Graham Contracting Limited.

RTD staff spent the past month conducting a comprehensive evaluation of the proposal consistent with the agency's Unsolicited Proposals Policy. The agency plans to accelerate the release of a Request for Proposals (RFP) for the North Metro project.

In January, RTD announced it would release an RFP in October to build North Metro up to 72nd Ave. by refinancing some of the agency's debt, issuing new sales tax bonds and using available local funds. However, given the findings of Graham's proposal, RTD plans to move up the RFP process for the North Metro Line to this summer.

"We're very encouraged by some of the ideas in the proposal, so our goal is to get things moving as soon as possible and see how the market speaks," said RTD General Manager Phil Washington.

The North Metro project is an 18.5-mile electrified commuter rail line that will connect Denver and Adams County by serving Commerce City, Northglenn and Thornton.